Storm re-signs sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb on first day of WNBA free agency

Originally published February 1, 2018 at 3:46 pm

Phoenix’s Camile Little gets a hard block of the shot by Seattle’s Sami Whitcomb near the end of the 2nd quarter Wednesday. The Phoenix Mercury played the Seattle Storm in the season’s exhibition opener Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at KeyArena in Seattle. 201762 (Dean Rutz / The Seattle Times)

Whitcomb, who 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds, will return next season for Storm.

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On the first day of WNBA free agency, the Seattle Storm re-signed guard Sami Whitcomb who made a splash last season as a 28-year-old rookie.

The 5-foot-10 reserve averaged 4.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.2 minutes in 2017. She scored in double figures four times, including a career high 22 points to lead the Storm to an 87-82 comeback victory over the New York Liberty.

In that game Whitcomb drained six three-pointers in the final 12 minutes, which tied a WNBA record for most 3s in a half. She shot 33.3 percent from the perimeter and finished fourth on the team with 34 three-pointers.

“Sami is an explosive player on both ends of the floor,” Storm president Alisha Valavanis said in a statement released by the team. “Her ability to score in bunches, combined with her energy and ability to mix it up on the defensive-end makes her a special player. We are excited to watch her WNBA career continue to develop.”

Whitcomb, a former Washington Huskies standout, was a training camp invitee last year before finding a role with the Storm.

“I am so incredibly thrilled for the opportunity to return to the Storm,” said Whitcomb who lives in Australia during the offseason and plays for the Perth Lynx. “The city of Seattle and its phenomenal sports community has been home to me ever since my UW days. It’s a dream to be back on a multi-year deal with the best teammates and the best organization.”

Last month the Storm designated forward Crystal Langhorne as its core player for a second straight year, which give the team exclusive rights to negotiate a deal and virtually ensures she’ll return. The 6-2 forward has spent the past four years in Seattle and averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 rebounds in 2017.

It’s unsure if the Storm will re-sign center unrestricted free agent Carolyn Swords, who was acquired last year in a three-way trade. The six-year veteran averaged 2.6 points, 1.5 rebounds – both career lows – in 8.7 minutes.

Noelle Quinn, a 10-year veteran who averaged 2.7 points and 2.8 assists last year in Seattle, is also an unrestricted free agent.